Tuesday’s back pages are emblazoned with pictures of Reece James after the Chelsea captain scored his first international goal on his first start for England since September 2022.
The 25-year-old curled a stunning first-half free-kick into the top corner to break the deadlock in Monday’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier win over Latvia, and played the full 90 minutes.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve had a frustrating two and a half years and I was so happy to get called up for my country again,” James told ITV Sport.
“I saw the wall and I felt I could bend it around, and thankfully I managed to hit the back of the net.”
James won the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea in 2021 and says the new England boss has been direct about what he expects from his squad during the qualification process and beyond.
“His ideas are clear, his goals and his targets,” he added.
“He set them out from the minute he came in, and we have one objective. It starts with this international and we have to keep on building right up to the World Cup.”
Tuchel was also full of praise for James: “I know Reece and I know the quality the boy has.
“He is amazing. He has every right to be proud and happy and satisfied with his performance.”
Did you know?
- James became the first player to score a direct free-kick for England at Wembley since John Barnes in April 1993.
